Feast (2014) - 9 stars out of 10

Feast (2014) - 9 stars out of 10

“Feast” is a perfectly executed concept.  Over the course of 6 minutes, you go from wondering how they could make an entire short out of these vignettes to being amazed at this new perspective of a love story.  The entire thing revolves around Winston, an adorably animated Boston Terrier, and the human food that makes its way into his life.   Each scene lasts a matter of seconds but tells an important story as, in the background of Winston eating, his master falls in love.  It seems like the short might become repetitive but it actually creates a unique progression full of comedy and emotion.  The animation is awesome with its line-free blocks of color that give it a very distinctive appearance.  I can definitely see “Feast” winning the Oscar for Best Animated Short this year – the concept is fresh and I could watch this one over and over again

[Pictured: Who could resist this little guy?]

Sleeping Beauty (1959) - 9 stars out of 10

Sleeping Beauty (1959) - 9 stars out of 10

“Sleeping Beauty” is a feast for the eyes.  From its detailed animated backdrops to the forest creatures and the bright green light that enshrouds Maleficent, this film embodies the classic Disney animation that we all love.  This was never one of my favorites, but experiencing it as an adult has given me new perspective.  Details like the 2-dimensional Medieval-style artwork at the beginning, comedy of the fairy godmothers ("Let it be pink!"), and the adaptations of Tchaikovsky’s ballet that run throughout the entire film make this a movie that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.  One complaint that I often have about Disney films is that they feel too short but, even with a runtime of 75 minutes, “Sleeping Beauty” is a satisfying length because so much happens throughout the story.  I would definitely feel inclined to watch this one again soon because of those magic Disney moments like Aurora dancing with the animals to Once Upon A Dream and Prince Phillip fighting the dragon.  Like many Disney classics from the 50’s and 60’s, this diverse set of characters is enhanced by an all-star group of voice actors.  The most poignant of these is the villain, Maleficent.  Eleanor Audley’s wicked voice (Lady Tremaine and Madam Leota in the Haunted Mansion) has terrified generations of children and can send shivers down the spine of any adult.  It is perfectly contrasted by Mary Costa, the opera singer that voiced Aurora.  The comic relief of Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather comes mainly from the voice acting.  Verna Felton (Fairy Godmother, Queen of Hearts), Barbara Jo Allen, and Barbara Luddy (Lady, Mother Sexton, Kanga) have amazing chemistry and provide the momentum for the entire story.  As a child, I did not realize the significance of these characters but Aurora’s story is actually told through them (they are in the film more than she is).  King Stefan and King Hubert have similar comical chemistry during their bickering sequence.  Bill Thompson (King Hubert) is one of my favorite members of the Disney royalty, having played White Rabbit, Mr. Smee, and five characters with different accents in “Lady and the Tramp.”  Walt Disney tackled this film as he was creating Disneyland, but it was well worth the 4 years that it took to produce.  It would be tough to find anybody who does not consider “Sleeping Beauty” to be a true Disney classic but if you find one, simply show them the smile on Aurora’s face after Prince Phillip kisses her.  It doesn’t get any more magical than that.

[Pictured: A truly classic Disney moment]

Big Hero 6 - 7 stars out of 10

Big Hero 6 - 7 stars out of 10

“Big Hero 6” is far from what you expect but everything that you want in a Disney movie.  The acquisition of Marvel allowed Disney to bring this comic book superhero team to the big screen.  As the oversaturation of the superhero market has become unbearable over the past few years (what are we on, Iron Man 4 and the third reboot of Spiderman?), my skepticism towards this film grew; however, leave it to Disney to create something entirely unique while everybody else continually copies each other.  The unique approach begins with the hybrid city of San Fransokyo.  This futuristic combination of San Francisco and Tokyo is an excellent backdrop for car chases, back-alley bot fights, and mysterious islands.  While the majority of Disney films take place long ago, “Big Hero 6” thrives on technology, gadgets, and the genius of its graduated-high-school-at-age-13 hero, Hiro.  The film’s villain is very real but the heart of the story lies within Hiro as he fights an internal battle between good and evil.  Disney even defies expectation by dreaming up an unconventional robot that is soft-spoken, endearing, and symbolic of the positive example set by Hiro’s older brother.  I had no idea how Baymax (the robot) could possibly fit into a Disney story, but he is utilized very well in Hiro’s transformation and great for comic relief.  Also, I have to mention the stunning animation.  Everything from the fast-paced action sequences to Hiro's hair possesses the details that we expect of Disney.  It was hard to imagine how Disney would follow up the unprecedented success of “Frozen,” but their total change of pace was a great decision.  For as entertaining as this film was, there certainly were shortcomings.  First, it often felt like the same joke was recycled throughout the movie.  You can only point out Baymax’s awkward size so many times, and his low battery-drunkenness went on for at least 3 minutes too long.  Still, the writers did a good job of developing the personalities of the four friends and only using their quirks sporadically as the story progressed.  Fred is a really awesome character.  Second, the voice acting was just average.  After incredible performances in “Frozen” by Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, and all of the others, these voice actors seemed pretty average.  Lastly, it just didn’t have the magic that makes a Disney classic (the spaghetti in “Lady in the Tramp,” the flying lanterns in “Tangled,” the kiss in “Sleeping Beauty”).  This film will entertain children for generations to come, but don’t expect a featured ride in Disney World.  While it won’t be topping my list of favorite Disney films, “Big Hero 6” had me laughing much more than I expected, giddy at the unexpected twists, and loving each sentimental family moment.

[Pictured: Disney does everything right, even futuristic technology and robots]

The Imitation Game - 8 stars out of 10

The Imitation Game - 8 stars out of 10

“The Imitation Game” is a fascinating historical thriller that focuses on Alan Turing’s race to crack the Nazi Enigma code during World War II.  While the writers’ artistic freedom led to several historical inaccuracies, it still properly portrays the seemingly impossible task faced by England’s finest cryptologists.  Benedict Cumberbatch is absolutely fantastic as Turing.  Cumberbatch has become a global phenomenon through his role on “Sherlock” as well as his popularity in Hollywood.  An Oscar nomination is just one more listing on his already impressive resume.  His standoffish, socially awkward interpretation of Turing may not be historically accurate, but it creates a dynamic character.  I also loved watching Keira Knightley light up the screen as Joan.  The film doesn’t focus on the inequality faced by women in the workplace, but she creates awareness of the issue and kicks it in the butt without ever directly addressing it.  I’ve never been a fan of hers, but she impressed me twice this year with “Begin Again” and now this role.  The “thriller” aspect of this film is very psychological.  There isn’t much action but our personal distaste for the Nazis keeps our hearts pounding with desperation for Turing to crack the code with his Turing machine (a.k.a. predecessor to the computer).  It definitely reads as if we were watching history.  I wish I understood how the machine actually works, but I’m glad that the writers maintain the momentum without stopping to explain.  I love the story of Turing’s machine, but I was put off by the ending of the film.  I was not opposed to the truthful look at Turing’s homosexuality and its effect on his life.  It would have been a historical injustice to ignore it, but I believe that the writers could have approached it without becoming so preachy at the end.  Rather than making a poignant point about how government treatments for homosexuality affected the life of an important historical figure, it almost began to feel like propaganda.  I walked away from this film feeling as if the writers tricked me into watching this thrilling story in order to subject me to a 15-minute gay rights agenda that was loosely tied to one of the movie’s themes.  “The Imitation Game’s” 8 Oscar nominations reflect the quality of the story and acting, but its ending left me wondering whether I just watched a great story or a strongly opinionated argument.

[Pictured: It's amazing how much suspense is created from people looking at a machine!]

How to Train Your Dragon 2 - 4 stars out of 10

How to Train Your Dragon 2 - 4 stars out of 10

“How to Train Your Dragon 2” is visually inspiring but otherwise flat.  After the success of the first film, a sequel was inevitable.  I will give the writers credit for making some bold decisions involving the fate of a few characters, but the effect is lost due to the uneventful first half of the movie.  My temptation to quit on this overly-family-friendly-story was only tempered by the interesting design of the different dragons.  Disney has mastered the art of creating family-friendly films whose story and character development appeal to all age groups but I couldn’t see anybody over the age of ten being thrilled by the first half of the story.  I’ve always taken issue with the casting of Jay Baruchel as Hiccup (his whiney voice is much better suited as a character voice, not a lead animated character that we have to hear for the entirety of the film) so the film definitely started off on the wrong foot, but it’s the lack of direction that just kills it for me.  Creating a dark emotional moment only works with the correct setup, and this film plunged into it without taking the time to make sure it would resonate.  As in the first film, I find Toothless to be the only memorable character.  The story centers on Hiccup and Stoick and I’d be hard pressed to even remember the name of any other character, let alone cite a character transformation or explain their importance to the story.  How many characters can you name from “The Lion King,” an animated film that came out 21 years ago?  Now, how many characters can you name from “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” a film that I watched two days ago?  For as bad as the story is, the animation is that great.  The sensation of the POV dragon-riding shots, the creativity of the different breeds (?), and that animation of the ice were all stunning.  If “How to Train Your Dragon 2” wins the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, it will be clear that it is for its visual graphics and not the film as a whole.  Don't hate me for slaying this dragon film, I can't help that the series is overrated!

[Pictured: Toothless and I seem to feel the same about this story]

Fight Club - 7 stars out of 10

Fight Club - 7 stars out of 10

“Fight Club” is completely twisted, but I’ve learned to expect nothing less from director David Fincher.  While everybody seems to know the first rule of fight club (“The first rule of fight club is -- you do not talk about fight club”), many do not realize how much more there is to this movie than fighting.  Fincher’s narrative style and overwhelming amount of violence gives the film a unique tone that makes it easy to distinguish after just a few seconds.  The story touches on interesting themes like anti-materialism and observing/experiencing the pain of others to feel an emotional release.  The violence gets to be too much (downright gross at points) and there are some slow parts, but the film is notable for its strong acting performances and unexpected twist.  Edward Norton plays The Narrator, an everyman whose purposeful lack of identity fits perfectly into the story.  This transformative role allows Norton to play every emotion from numbness and apathy to anger and aggressiveness.  The Narrator’s generic nature makes it natural for him to latch on to Tyler Durden, a nonconformist played by Brad Pitt.  Pitt doesn’t have a transformation; rather, he shows Norton how to become a maverick that does whatever he wants.  Helena Bonham Carter provides the dynamic emotions but you can’t actually truly understand her character until you’ve seen the ending and rewatch the film.  While you only get to be shocked by the epic twist the first time that you watch, Fincher hides clues throughout the entire film that make it just as entertaining when you already know the surprise.  It definitely required higher level thinking to pull this one off.  Unlike many films that reserve the twist of the final few minutes, “Fight Club” reveals it early and uses the final portion of the film to resolve the conflict.  The most interesting part of the film is its cultural implications.  Like “A Clockwork Orange,” this film inspired crimes and violence across the country.  While I don’t advocate these copycat crimes, it speaks highly of the psychological impact that this film had on its viewers.  “Fight Club” is not a movie for everybody and I don’t necessarily “enjoy” it, but its significance to the film world is undeniable and its surprises will leave your heart pounding in the end.

[Pictured: Norton and Pitt have incredible chemistry from start to finish]